Blooming even in the mud - Chapter 64

Nothing particularly memorable had occurred after that.
Even as she watched Yoo Seo-hwa shake her head, Dal-rae still felt uneasy for some reason.
‘I didn’t see clearly, but that silhouette from back then really looked like Kkeoksoe… Since Yoo Seo-hwa says she didn’t see anyone, I just can’t be sure.’
There was no hard proof, but there was no harm in being careful.
“You should be careful for the time being. I doubt Kkeoksoe would actually hurt you, but once a man loses his mind, a woman can’t handle him alone.”
“Exactly, exactly. There are plenty of men who harbor a grudge just because they got rejected.”
Dal-rae chimed in from the side.
“Now that you mention it, I’ve always found Kkeoksoe a bit chilling sometimes. He looks quiet and dependable, but whenever something bothers him, his vibe turns completely bizarre.”
“You found Kkeoksoe creepy too?”
“There’s a reason why the other girls stay away from him, even though marrying him could make them out-resident slaves.”
“I understand. I shall keep that in mind.”
“They say his younger sibling was sold off to some temple somewhere, and his eyes roll back whenever that topic comes up, so never mention family in front of Kkeoksoe either.”
“I will remember.”
The field of grievances continued in hushed whispers behind the Banbitgan.
The break time, which had carried on with trivial chatter, soon came to an end. Just as they were about to head back since their hoarded snacks had run out, a figure cautiously approached.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Byeoljang? What brings you all the way here?”
“I won’t take up much of your time.”
Kkot-bun and Dal-rae hurriedly exchanged glances.
‘Who is that?’
‘No idea.’
Kkot-bun smiled awkwardly and pulled Dal-rae away.
“We’ll head inside first.”
“I shall return shortly.”
Sensing the atmosphere, Kkot-bun and Dal-rae vanished in the blink of an eye. An awkward silence settled between the two who remained.
Before Yoo Seo-hwa, who was looking down at the ground, Wang Jeong-mun swallowed his anxiety.
It was the first time they had faced each other directly since that day. In terms of actual days, not that much time had passed, yet it felt as though it had been an incredibly long time since he last saw her.
“I should have come to see you sooner, but I could not greet you out of fear that he might misunderstand.”
“…….”
“Fortunately, a small banquet is being held today, and the private residence is quite hectic, so I took advantage of the opportunity.”
“…….”
“I am sorry.”
Wang Jeong-mun bowed his head deeply toward Yoo Seo-hwa, who remained silent throughout.
The atmosphere at that time, as well as Gyeong Won-ui’s demeanor, had been far from ordinary. He felt deeply apologetic to her, knowing she might have suffered hardships because of his actions.
What made him feel even more guilty was the uncontrollable pounding of his heart, to the point where he wondered if this guilt was merely an excuse to come see Yoo Seo-hwa.
The moment Yoo Seo-hwa’s gentle face, chatting peacefully with her companions, entered his field of vision, his heart reacted violently.
Yoo Seo-hwa had always been serene or calmly subdued.
Whenever the sorrow she was swallowing and suppressing faintly bled out, a sorrowful beauty drifted from her, like an orchid heavily drooping its head after being drenched in rain.
‘……I should not be doing this.’
That was why, even though he knew he should not, he had likely been unable to tear his eyes away.
Only after some time did he discover a faint trace of a smile on her face. He also came to realize that she was capable of wearing such a relaxed expression.
A murky wave of guilt intertwined with joy surged within him.
Yoo Seo-hwa’s lips, which had been tightly closed all this while, moved softly.
“No matter how many times I thank you, it would never be enough for the consideration the Byeoljang has shown to someone of my lowly status. Therefore, I worry that I may become a burden to you.”
A bitter look settled around Wang Jeong-mun’s eyes.
Though she had phrased it politely, in a single word, it meant he should not come looking for her anymore. As expected, his feelings, which she did not desire, must only bring her discomfort.
However, Yoo Seo-hwa’s words did not end there.
“Having suffered deposition to commoner status, I am destined to draw my last breath while stagnant at the very bottom. Since it was my father’s sin, whom could I possibly blame? But the Byeoljang is different. To be entangled with the fate of a woman like me is…….”
Her deep, transparent eyes met Wang Jeong-mun’s.
It was an darkness so deep it felt as if it would draw him in, yet so transparent it seemed not to reflect him at all.
“You are far too good a person.”
Wang Jeong-mun had not known that a single phrase resembling praise, like ‘a good person,’ could engrave itself so coldly.

The narrow clearing behind the Banbitgan was a place hidden from people’s sight. Provided that no one deliberately sought it out or spied on them.
‘Who is that man again? Is he the master’s retainer?’
Hiding behind the corner, Kkeoksoe rolled his eyes. His bloodshot eyes continuously tracked Yoo Seo-hwa as she stood facing Wang Jeong-mun.
‘Why are they talking so intimately? ……Could it be?’
Kkeoksoe’s breathing grew heavy. As expected, there had been another reason why she rejected him.
‘Not content with just the master, she’s even keeping retainers under her skirt, so a slave like me wouldn’t satisfy her. Dammit! Dammit!’
He knew something was strange.
Among the slaves in the private residence, there was no way another man possessed an appearance as neat and conditions as good as his, yet Yoo Seo-hwa had rejected him. Had he not even received permission from the Butler, who took note of his diligence, to be sent away as an out-resident slave?
And yet, Yoo Seo-hwa had refused. When she was nothing more than a criminal who belonged to the family of a treasonous rebel.
‘Who does she think she is! Looking at me with those kinds of eyes!’
The gaze Yoo Seo-hwa had directed at him when rejecting him felt as if she were scoffing at a lowly slave for daring to look above his station.
It was entirely Yoo Seo-hwa’s fault. Blindsided by the embarrassment and rage of having his courtship rejected, Kkeoksoe completely distorted the reality of that moment.
It was Yoo Seo-hwa who had rejected him for being a lowly slave, and it was Yoo Seo-hwa who was bewitching both the master and the retainers.
‘She should have just kicked the bucket when she fell into the water!’
When he had pushed her into the pond under orders to teach her a lesson, he had felt something akin to guilt. Seeing Yoo Seo-hwa unable to even struggle—perhaps because her leg had cramped—he had suddenly grown terrified and even thought of saving her.
If he had known what kind of woman Yoo Seo-hwa truly was, he would have shoved her head straight into the pond to drown her.
A murky murderous intent flickered in Kkeoksoe’s eyes, which were bulging with red veins.
‘Yoo Seo-hwa is simply receiving the punishment she deserves. It’s not my fault, absolutely not! And I can even s-save my sibling, right?’
He wasn’t committing a crime. He was merely delivering the punishment Yoo Seo-hwa rightly deserved on behalf of heaven. Since his sibling’s life was also at stake, it killed two birds with one stone.
Everything bad was because of Yoo Seo-hwa.
Following Yoo Seo-hwa with gleaming eyes as she parted from the retainer and headed back to the Banbitgan, Kkeoksoe exhaled a ragged breath.

“Yoo Seo-hwa, could you go run an errand outside?”
A maidservant gestured to her. Yoo Seo-hwa, who had just finished washing the dishes, wiped her hands on her apron and straightened her waist.
“An errand?”
“Aunt Deok-sun said there isn’t a suitable hanging scroll to put up for the evening banquet, so she wants you to find one. Wouldn’t you be better at choosing a decoration suitable for a noble’s banquet than the Butler or Aunt Deok-sun?”
“It is not a difficult task, but where am I supposed to look for it?”
“She told you to look in the Inner House.”
“A hanging scroll to be placed at a banquet for gentlemen, from the Inner House?”
“I don’t know what difference it makes either. Anyway, I’ve delivered the message.”
Having finished her business, the maidservant walked away briskly, leaving the contemplating Yoo Seo-hwa behind as she stepped out of the Banbitgan.
Outside stood Kkeoksoe.

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